Rear boom support for loading machines



May 4, 1954 R. A. MCCALLUM REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1951 I r I I I I I I I l m lfl iliiil! a y 4, 1954 R. A. M CALLUM REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1951 May 4, 1954 R. A. MOCALLUM 2,677,

REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 4, 1954 R. A. M CALLUM REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES Filed Oct. 26, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 (if/away May 4, 1954 Filed Oct. 26, 1951 R. A. M CALLUM REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES G Sheets-Sheet 5 WI' HI'NA ill n I O m :1 IV m M y 1954 R. A. M CALLUM REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 26, 1951 Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE REAR BOOM SUPPORT FOR LOADING MACHINES Clarendon Hills, 111., as-

Robert A. McCallum, signor to Goodman Manufacturing Company,

Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in machines for conveying material and more particularly to an improved machine for gathering and loading coal at the working face of a mine underground.

Prior art machines for gathering and loading coal into a haulage vehicle have, in general, been characterized by a gathering head arranged to swivel in both a horizontal and vertical plane with respect to the main frame of the machine, and a discharge boom also arranged to swivel in both a horizontal and vertical plane. Conveying means, generally in the form of a chain conveyor having laterally extending flights, are arranged to move material from the gathering head to the end of the discharge boom so that the material can be discharged into a haulage vehicle disposed beneath the discharge boom.

Heretofore such discharge booms have been provided with trough sections arranged to swivel about the trough section of the main frame, and at the point of articulation of the trough sec tions, flexible side walls have been provided so that a curve is described around which the flight conveyor may conveniently travel. The discharge boom has generally been arranged to pivot in a substantially horizontal direction about a vertically movable frame also carrying a trough section, and the vertically movable frame and the pivot structure have been required to take all the thrusts incident to the unsupported length of the discharge boom and the material being carried thereon.

In carrying out the present invention the discharge boom is supported on a pair of arms ex tending from the vertically movable trough portion, the arms being arranged to pivot with respect to said trough portion and to telescope within the side walls of the discharge boom trough. The arms provide a guide for the chain flights at the point of articulation of the discharge boom with the vertically movable trough portion, and additionally make it possible to have the connection between the discharge boom and the vertically movable trough to be required to take only turning movement and not the bending stresses which normally would be induced by the weight of the discharge boom and the material moving thereon.

It is a principal object of this invention to afford a new and improved construction for a materials handling conveyor of a gathering and loading machine.

Another object is to provide a new and improved support for a discharge boom of a chain flight conveyor, where the discharge boom is articulated with respect to a vertically movable trough portion of such conveyor, and wherein the swiveling of the discharge boom is achieved without the use of a load bearing connection at the point of articulation.

Other objects and important features of the invention will be apparent after a study of the specification following taken with the drawings which together illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and what is now considered to be the best mode of applying the principles thereof. While the invention is shown and described in terms of such preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings of the within specification, and it is therefore intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the precise embodiment herein shown nor otherwise than by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a general plan view of a gathering and loading machine having embodied therein the improvements according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat more detailed plan view of the discharge boom of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the discharge boom, parts thereof being shown in broken away section, with the flight conveyor thereof removed;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the discharge boom in the straight away position thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the discharge boom shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing details of the articulated connection of the discharge boom to the vertically movable trough section;

Fig. 8' is a section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the discharge boom and the vertically movable trough sec tion, showing the fluid motors for swinging the discharge boom with respect to the vertically movable trough sections; and

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the idler roller for the chain flight conveyor.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the present invention is shown as embodied in a gathering and loading machine indicated generally by the reference numeral 23. Such a machine embodies a main frame 2| mounted upon crawler treads 22 which are sup plied with motive power by electric motors 23 mounted on each side of the frame 2| and adapted independently to supply power to the individual crawler treads 22. The machine includes a gathering head 23 adapted to swivel with respect to the main frame 2| in both a vertical and horizontal direction to the positions shown in the phantom outline seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Material gathered by the gathering head 25 is moved by a conveyor 2% of the chain flight type, and the conveyor 26 moves along amain frame trough portion 23, a trough portion 29 which is movable in a generally vertical direction with respect to the main frame trough portion 28, and a discharge boom section 3i, which is movable in a vertical plane with the vertically movable portion 23, and which is also adapted to swivel in a substantially horizontal plane about a point of articulation 32. The discharge boom 3| may thus be moved to the positions seen in phantom outline in a horizontal plane as seen in Fig. l and to positions in a vertical plan as seen in phantom outline in Fig 2. lhe precise details of construction of such a gathering and loading machine may be in part as disclosed in Cartlidge Patent No. 2,388,385 issued November 6, 194%5, for Material Gathering and Loading Machine.

The improved discharge boom of the gathering and loading machine according to the present invention may thus include a hydraulic motor 33 for swinging the gathering head 24 in a substantially horizontal plane and other hydraulic motors, not shown, for moving the gathering head 2-;- in a substantially vertical plane. The vertically movable trough portion 29 together with the discharge boom 35 may be raised and lowered.

The improved discharge boom of the gathering and loading machine according to the present invention may thus include a hydraulic motor 33 for swinging the gathering head 24 in a substantially horizontal plane and other hydraulic motors, not shown, formoving the gathering head 24 in a substantially vertical plane. The vertically movable trough portion 29 together with the discharge boom 3| may be raised and lowered in a vertical plane by means of hydraulic cylinders 3d mounted on each side of the trough section 29, in a manner similar to that shown in the aforesaid Cartlidge patent.

As seen in Fig. 3, the flight conveyor 25 consists of an endless chain 2'! having chain flights 36 extending laterally on each side of the chain 21. As seen also with respect to Figs. 1 and ;2, the chain flight conveyor 26 is adapted to turn in both a horizontal and vertical direction according to the position of the gathering head 24. the vertically movable trough section 29 and the horizontally movable discharge boom 3|. The chain conveyor 26 thus moves longitudinally of the vertically movable trough section 29 and the discharge boom 3| whence it is trained around an idler roller 31 mounted on a dead shaft 38 which is movable in a pair of slots 33 located adjacent the end of the discharge boom 3|. The shaft 38 and the idler roller '31 are adjusted in position to take up the slack in the chain '21 occasioned by the swinging movement of the discharge boom 3|, and means for effecting such take-up is referred to generally by the reference numeral 4|. The slack take up means 4| is not described in detail in this application since it forms subject matter of and is claimed in a companion application of Richard C. Lundquist, Ser. No. 251,075 filed October 12, 1951, now Patent No. 2,646,871, granted July 28, 1953, for Improvements in Articulated Conveyor for Mining Machine.

The vertically movable trough section 29, see Figs. 4 and 7, consists of an upper chain support plate 42 anda lower chain support plate 43 which arespaced from each other to provide clearance for the return run of the chain 21. Opposite sides of the plates 52 and .43 are welded to vertical plates 44 so that the vertically movable trough portion 29 is thus defined. The discharge boom 3| is likewise composed of an upper chain support plate 46 and a lower chain support plate 41 similarly spaced from each other to provid clearance for the return run of the chain 2; as seen in Fig. 9. Opposite sides of the plates 46 and 41 are welded to a vertical leg 48 of an angle member49 having a turned out horizontal flange 5|. The vertical legs 43 of the angle members 49 are continuous with vertical plate members .45 having a turnedout upper flange .53 and a turned out lower flange 55. The flanges 50 and lend stiffness to the end ,of the discharge boom 3| and the vertical plate members are provided with the slots 39 for the idler roller shaft 33'previously referred to.

The plates 46 and ,4! of the discharge boom 3| are adapted to pivot substantially horizontally at point 32 with respect to the plates 42 and 43 of the vertically movable trough portion 29, and to this end the lower chain support plate 43 has welded thereto a spider 52 forming a support for a pair of pivot plates 53 and 54 and a reinforcing pad 5'5. The pivot plates 53 and 54 are connected together by cap screws 51' which extend through arcuate slots 58 formed in the spider 52 and the reinforcing pad 56. As seen in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and -'7 the upper plate 42 and the lower plate 43 of trough section 29 are cut on concave arcs with point 32 asa center, and upper plate 46 and lower plate .41 of trough section 3| are out on a convex arc with point 32 as a center so that the plates may pivot on the center 32 while .at the same time presenting smooth surfaces for both the upper and lower runs of the chain 21.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the spider 52 has oppositely extending arms 59 which are welded to lifting bracket plates 6| which are secured, as by welding, to the underside of the bottom chain support plate 43 at each sidethereof. The bracket plates 6;| are each provided with a bracket 62 terminatingin a clevis 63 to provide a pinned connection with aneye 64 of a piston rod, not shown, of the lifting cylinders as.

Means are provided so that the bearing loads occasionedby the weight of the discharge boom 3| are taken by the vertical side plates 44 of the vertically movable trough section 29 and by the vertical 'legs .48 and the horizontal flanges 5| of the angle members .49. The provision of such means thus enables the use of a relatively light structure for pivoting at pivot point 32 of the discharge boom 3| with respect to the vertically movable :trough section .29. To this purpose the ends of the vertical plates '44 are stiffened with gudgeon members 56, see Figs. 6 and '7, having eyes 61 at the end thereof to receive vertical pintles 63 extending from .the end of a link. The other end of the link .69 is similarly provided with vertical pintles 1| adapted to turn within eyes 12 of a gudgeon member '53. A channel shaped member 14, see Fig. 9, is welded at its end to the gudgeon member 13 and extends along the angle member 49 with an upper flange 79 thereof bearing against the underside of the flange The channel member 14 is guided against the vertical leg d8 of the angle by an angle 7! having a vertical leg is welded to the edge of the horizontal flange 5i and a horizontal leg 79 welded to the outer face of the vertical leg 48. It will be seen that the angles 49 and ll define a box section forming thusly the guide for the channel it.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, the links 69 are formed with turned in feet 8| which fair back at B2 in a direction toward the pintles H, and at 83 toward the pintles 68. The feet 3! are thus substantially trapezoidal in shape and serve as a guide for the ends of the flights 36 as the chain conveyor 2E5 moves angularly past the pivot point 32. As seen more particularly in Fig. 3 the ends of the flights 3% thus contact the inside of the turn between the trough section 29 and the discharge boom 3! and in so doing contact the foot 8i.

The flange 5! provides a support for a guide 3 which is spaced slightly from the vertical leg 23 of the angle 49 so that a spring plate 35 may be guided thereby. The spring plate 86 is secured to the gudgeon l3 and is movable with respect to the vertical leg 48 according to the di rection of pivotal movement of the discharge boom 3i. It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the surface 82 of the foot 8| fairs into the spring plate 8%. so that a substantially smooth surface is presented at the ends of the flights 36.

It will be noted that the angle members 59 terminate at a point spaced from the gudgeons it so that in pivotal movement of the discharge boom 35 one or the other of the gudgeons 73 will move toward the end of the angle member 39 according to the direction of such pivotal movement, the channel member i telescoping within the box section afforded by the angle member E19 and the angle member H. The plate 35 moves along the trough side of the angle member 39 with the channel member 14 whilst being held against the angle member 39 by the-guide 84. As seen in Fig. 3, in pivotal movement of the discharge boom 3!, one of the channel members id moves further within the box section composed of the angle members 49 and T! while the opposite channel member tends to withdraw from its associated box section, at all times, however, proper bearing being had for the support of the discharge boom 3|.

Power means are provided for pivoting the discharge boom 3! about the trough section 29 at the pivot point 32. Such power means is positioned underneath the discharge boom 3! and the trough section 29 thereby reducing the lateral dimensions of the machine when in the straight line position. As seen more particularly in Fig. 18, the lower chain support plate All has welded thereto an abutment plate 81 which projects angularly from the plane of the plate 4'! and towards the lower chain support plate 43 of a vertically movable trough section 29. A support bracket 88 is secured adjacent each end of the abutment plate 81 on each side of the centerline of the discharge boom 3i, and a fluid operated motor as is hingedly connected to each bracket 89, the opposite end of each motor 89 being also hingedly connected to a bracket 9| secured to the underside of the bottom chain support plate 43 of the vertically movable trough section 29. Each fluid motor 89 is supplied with fluid under pressure by pressure lines 92 and 93 which are connected to control means and a source of fluid under pressure, not shown, for swinging the discharge boom 3| as desired.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there has been provided several salient improvements in the art of conveying mechanisms for gathering and loading machines. By the provision of the load supporting arms extending along the side walls of the discharge boom and the load supporting link extending past the point of pivotal connection of the discharge boom with the vertically movable trough section, all the function of a radial thrust bearing at the point of pivotal connection for supporting the discharge boom is had. By the provision of the load supporting arms and links the pivot is not required to take the thrust imposed by the weight of the discharge boom. At the same time the overall height of the machine is greatly lessened by elimihating the need for a radial thrust bearing coincident with the point of articulation having the necessary height to take the thrust incident to the weight of the discharge boom. Moreover, the provision of the load supporting links extending across the point of pivotal connection makes unnecessary the need of spring plates for guiding the ends of the chain flights as they move angularly past the pivot point.

While the invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited by the precise embodiment disclosed herein, and only by the spirit and breadth of the claims here appended.

I claim:

1. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a support spider extending from beneath one of said trough sections to a position beneath the other of said trough sections, a pivot bearing supported by said spider for connecting said trough sections articulately, and means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, means affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other, guide plates extending along the inner side of the side walls of said other trough section and connected to said load supporting links and movable telescopically with respect to said side walls with said load supporting arms to guide the ends of said flights as said trough sections move with respect to each other, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of said load supporting links and having flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be effected gradually.

2. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections artioulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, means on the other of said trough sections affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other, guide plates extending along the inner side of the side walls of said other trough section and connected to said load supporting links and movable telescopically with respect to said side walls with said load supporting arms to guide the ends of said flights as said trough sections move with respect to each other, and means extending inwyardly from said load supporting links providing a. guide for the ends of said chain flights when said. trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of said load supporting links and having chain flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said chain flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be effected gradually.

3. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side Walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load. supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections, guide plates extending along the inner side of the side walls of said other trough section and connected to said lead supporting links and movable telescopically with respect to said side walls with said load supporting arms to guide the ends of said flights as said trough sections move with respect to each other, and. means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said chain flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of said load supporting links and. having chain flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said chain flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be effected gradually.

4. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections, guide plates extending along the inner side of the side walls of said other trough section and connected to said load supporting links and movable telescopically with respect to said side walls with said load supporting arms to guide the ends of said flights as said trough sections move with respect to each other.

5. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly con ected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said lead supporting links, means on the other of said trough sections affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said chain flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of load supporting links and having chain flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said chain flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be effected gradually.

6. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walis for the forward and return runs of an endless conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections and extending past the point of articulation of said troughs, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, and means on the other of said trough sections affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other.

7. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said chain flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of said load supporting links and having chain flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said chain flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be efl'ected gradually.

8. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support pates extending between side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless chain flight conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section com prising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, and load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said chain flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other.

9. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a support spider extending from beneath one of said trough sections to a position beneath the other of said trough sections, a pivot bearing supported by said spider for connecting said trough sections articulately, and means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections, and load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load 10 supporting links and in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections.

10. In an articulated conveyor, a pair of aligned trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis, each of said trough sections having substantially vertical side walls with vertically spaced support plates extending between said side walls for the forward and return runs of an endless conveyor extending longitudinally of said trough sections, a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, and means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the vertical side walls of one of said trough sections and extending past the point of articulation of said troughs, and load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links and in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections.

11. An articulated connection for a flight conveyor having a pair of trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis: which comprises a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the sides of one of said trough sections and extending past the point of articulation of said troughs, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, means aiiording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other, guide plates extending along the inner sides of said other trough section and connected to said load supporting links and movable telescopically with said load supporting arms with respect to said sides to guide the ends of said flights as said trough sections move with respect to each other, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other, said guide means extending longitudinally of said load supporting links and having flight engaged surfaces whereby the change in direction of said flight conveyor in moving past the point of articulation will be effected gradually.

12. An articulated connection for a flight conveyor having a pair of trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis: which comprises a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the sides of one of said trough sections and extending past th point of articulation of said troughs, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, means affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect to each other, and guide plates extending along the inner sides of said other trough section and connected to said load supporting links and movable telescopically with said load supporting arms with respect to said sides to guide the ends of saidflights as said trough sections move with respect to each other.

13. An articulated connection for a flight conveyor having a pair of trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a: substantially vertical axis: which comprises a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section comprising load: supporting links hingedly connected at one end to the sides of one of said trough sections and extending past thepoint of articulation of said troughs; load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links, and means on the other of said trough sections affording a guide and bearing contact for said load supporting arms in all positions of articulation of said trough sections with respect toeach other.

14. An articulated connection for a flight conveyor having a pair oftrough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis: which comprises a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining saidpivot bearingin a condition free from thrust incident tothe weight of said movable trough section. comprising load supporting links hingedly connectedat one end to the sides of one of said troughv sections and extending: past the point of articulation of said troughs, load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting links in bearing contact with the other of said trough sections, and means extending inwardly from said load supporting links providing a guide for the ends of said flights when said trough sections are moved articulately with respect to each other.

15- An articulated connection for a flight conveyor having a pair of trough sections, one of said trough sections being movable with respect to the other about a substantially vertical axis: which comprises a pivot bearing connecting said trough sections articulately, means for maintaining. said pivot bearing in a condition free from thrust incident to the weight of said movable trough section: comprising loadsupporting links hingedly connected at one end to thesides of one of said trough sections and extending: past the point ofarticulation of said troughs, and load supporting arms hingedly connected to said load supporting linksandin bearing cont-act'with the other of said trough sections.

Name Date Levin July 14, 1936 Number 

